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Koeman: Leicester have ridden ‘perfect’ storm

The Barclays Premier League will see no repeat of Leicester’s “perfect” title march next season, according to Southampton boss Ronald Koeman.

Koeman has insisted he will remain in charge of the Saints next term, despite rumoured interest from Everton, while he has been touted as Arsenal’s preferred long-term successor to Arsene Wenger.

The former Barcelona and Holland defender still hopes Southampton can secure Europa League football for next term, targeting victory over Manchester City on Sunday to kick-start that chase.

Leicester, meanwhile, can win the title with victory at Manchester United on Sunday, but Koeman believes their stunning season will not shift the Premier League’s landscape permanently.

“Everyone knows it has to be perfect to win the title in the Premier League,” said Koeman.

“You need no European football, no injuries in important players, need the big teams to struggle a little bit and that happened this year but it doesn’t happen every season.”

Koeman expects the Premier League’s traditional powers to flex all their financial muscles to restore the expected top-flight order next term.

The former Feyenoord boss believes next season will still prove too early for the likes of Southampton to mount a title challenge, but he did admit chasing Champions League qualification is not out of the question.

“We have enough pressure at Southampton because what we showed last year already with (Mauricio) Pochettino in the first season and also this season we have shown we are a stable club and can fight for more than the middle of the table,” said Koeman.

“The top four is a more normal achievement for a club like Southampton than winning the league.

“If we have a good finish now then perhaps we can be satisfied with the season.

“We had some good football, some good wins at home.

“Maybe we lost too many points away from home but we have some big games to play, the first this Sunday against Man City.

“It’s good and it’s good to show that we still are strong and we show the spirit and belief to finish this season in a good way.”